shdmn

I think that is an understatement. I did 2 visa runs on a 6 month multi-entry and got pushback after only 4 months total in Thailand. Wasn't even sure if they were going to let me back in the 2nd time. So there will most definitely be pushback.

ftfy

I have been watching the IQAir website very closely during burning season. They get triple digit days down south too sometimes. Probably mostly from palm tree burning in Indonesia. There is no escaping the bad air pollution in Thailand and it seems to be getting worse every year.

I have been hitting various destinations there one at a time. Danang beach is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. Next trip I am thinking of checking out Phu Quoc.

Kuala Lumpur looks interesting. Cheap flights from BKK. Cheap hotel rooms. Good reasonably priced food. Penang also looks interesting if beach is a must.

So you think it's only a one time 10k fee for the entire 5 years? Not including extensions and whatever unknown fees are associated with that.

I think a lot of people are under the mistaken impression that they can use this new 5 year visa as a tourist visa. The way it's worded it doesn't sound like you can, so you will probably have to prove that you earn some minimum amount of income remotely or are doing one of the other occupations they listed.

I think you can extend your tourist visa online now too.

That would be convicted felon Trump.

They probably all just copied the same news article, which apparently got it wrong.

Are you talking about convicted felon Trump?

That's scary: I mean, if they can convict Donald Trump of 34 felony counts for the crimes he committed, they can convict any criminal for the crimes they committed.

I think you need to get your sarcasm detector checked.

That is just what the lame street media wants you to believe.

No no see it's obviously a conspiracy by the deep state....or something.

That could definitely be a tricky one to figure out.

It's the same horse race politics media nonsense every 4 years. People have short-term memories so they fall for it every time. I think pretty much every incumbent president in recent history, that won a 2nd term, was behind in the polls at this time before the next election. Doesn't matter who they were running against. In other words, the polls right now are meaningless.

He is a shoe in for the sequel to "The Smartest Guys in the Room".

If it is done like a multi-entry e-visa, you would have to show airport immigration your visa printout, which would have the expiry date(s) on it. As long as the visa is still valid they would stamp you in for 180 days each time. It's still not clear to me how the payments every 180 days would work. You would most likely need to go into immigration to do that so you would need to make sure you are in the country before the expiry of each 180-day period.

There are no coasts in Thailand? 🤔

The PI is not as humid as Thailand. Cebu temperatures stay about the same year round. Not too much rain during rainy season compared to a lot of other places. I don't have much interest in the other places you mentioned. Dramaguette has lots of power problems and that's a deal breaker for me. And then there is all the expat drama there. Doesn't sound like the kind of expats I want to be around.

Besides booze, just about everything else is more expensive than Thailand.

I decided to give the PI a go this winter. Partly because of the tax and visa hassles, but also because I got hassled on re-entry last time for the first time in 20 years, despite following all the rules. Didn't make me feel very welcome. The horrible air pollution I experienced last trip is another reason. We shall see how it goes in 2025 after the dust settles, and depending on what I think of my stay in the PI this winter, but it looks like Thailand has lost my winter business for 2024.

I was wondering about that. They say for work AND tourism but they don't say for work OR tourism. If I can't use it just as a tourist then that would count me out.

It doesn't specifically imply multi-entry within the 180 day period with no strings attached and no fees. I don't think the non-O retirement visa is multi-entry unless you pay extra for that option or fill out a form and pay a fee each time you exit the country.